Veldkampia

HABIT Annual. Culms prostrate; 5–7 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes single; bearing 14 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis fragile at the nodes. Rhachis internodes linear. Rhachis internode tip crateriform.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile and pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels linear.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets represented by barren pedicels.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 1.411–2.04 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus pubescent; base obtuse; inserted. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; cartilaginous. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex emarginate, or obtuse. Upper glume oblong. Upper glume awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; membranous; wingless. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate. Palea absent or minute.

FRUIT Caryopsis oblong.

DISTRIBUTION Tropical Asia.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.